40 Groups Slam 'Deep Hypocrisy' of Saudi-Hosted Internet Governance Forum

Cybersecurity experts and human rights groups are denouncing a conference hosted by Saudi Arabia

A public letter penned by 40 organizations to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other officials has challenged the credibility of a forum on internet regulation hosted by Saudi Arabia, claiming that the nation’s record on human rights and suppression of free expression makes it an unsuitable host for the meeting.

The letter states that Saudi Arabia's laws "routinely violate rights enshrined in international law and standards," with journalists and dissidents often facing imprisonment and torture. The letter also highlights the kingdom's "widespread surveillance and censorship," which includes blocking of critical websites and social media accounts.

The Internet Governance Forum is a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform on internet-related public policy issues such as access, security, stability, and development.

It was established in 2006 by the UN Secretary-General as a follow-up to the World Summit on the Information Society.

The forum brings together governments, businesses, civil society, and technical experts from around the world to discuss and develop public policy on the internet.

This year's forum is being hosted by Saudi Arabia in the city of Riyadh from December 5-9.

In a statement, the Saudi government said that it is "committed to working with all stakeholders to create a more open, inclusive, and secure internet for all."

However, the organizations that signed the letter argue that "Saudi Arabia's hosting of the IGF is a clear case of 'sportswashing' - an attempt to use a prestigious international event to distract attention from its abysmal human rights record."

The letter concludes by urging Guterres and other officials to "take immediate action to ensure that the IGF is not used as a platform to legitimize Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses."